mu lti-ta sking N‑UNCOUNT Multi-tasking is a situation in which a computer or person does more than one thing at the same time. □ The big advantage of multi-tasking is that all equipment is used most of the time.
multi|tude /mʌ lt I tjuːd, [AM ] -tuːd/ (multitudes )
1 QUANT A multitude of things or people is a very large number of them. □ [+ of ] There are a multitude of small quiet roads to cycle along. □ [+ of ] Being inactive can lead to a multitude of health problems. ● PHRASE If you say that something covers or hides a multitude of sins , you mean that it hides something unattractive or does not reveal the true nature of something. □ 'Strong, centralized government' is a term that can cover a multitude of sins.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to a very large number of people as a multitude . [WRITTEN ] □ …surrounded by a noisy multitude.
3 N‑COUNT [with sing or pl verb] You can refer to the great majority of people in a particular country or situation as the multitude or the multitudes . □ The hideous truth was hidden from the multitude.
mum ◆◇◇ /mʌ m/ (mums )
1 N‑COUNT Your mum is your mother. You can call your mum 'Mum'. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ He misses his mum. □ Mum and Dad are coming for lunch. □ Don't worry, Mum. in AM, usually use mom
2 PHRASE If you keep mum or stay mum about something, you do not tell anyone about it. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ about ] He is keeping mum about his feelings on the matter.
mum|ble /mʌ mb ə l/ (mumbles , mumbling , mumbled ) VERB If you mumble , you speak very quietly and not at all clearly with the result that the words are difficult to understand. □ [V ] Her grandmother mumbled in her sleep. □ [V n] He mumbled a few words. □ [V with quote] 'Today of all days,' she mumbled. ● N‑COUNT Mumble is also a noun. □ He could hear the low mumble of Navarro's voice.
mum|bo jum|bo /mʌ mboʊ dʒʌ mboʊ/ also mumbo-jumbo N‑UNCOUNT If you describe ideas or words, especially religious or technical ones, as mumbo jumbo , you mean that they are nonsense. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ It's all full of psychoanalytic mumbo-jumbo.
mum|mi|fy /mʌ m I fa I / (mummifies , mummifying , mummified ) VERB [usu passive] If a dead body is mummified , it is preserved, for example by rubbing it with special oils and wrapping it in cloth. □ [be V -ed] In America, people are paying up to $150,000 to be mummified after death. □ [V -ed] …the mummified pharaoh.
mum|my /mʌ mi/ (mummies )
1 N‑COUNT Some people, especially young children, call their mother mummy . [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ I want my mummy. □ Mummy says I can play out in the garden. in AM, use mommy 2 N‑COUNT A mummy is a dead body which was preserved long ago by being rubbed with special oils and wrapped in cloth. □ …an Egyptian mummy.
mumps /mʌ mps/ N‑UNCOUNT Mumps is a disease usually caught by children. It causes a mild fever and painful swelling of the glands in the neck.
munch /mʌ ntʃ/ (munches , munching , munched ) VERB If you munch food, you eat it by chewing it slowly, thoroughly, and rather noisily. □ [V n] Luke munched the chicken sandwiches. □ [V ] Across the table, his son Benjie munched appreciatively. □ [V + way through ] Sheep were munching their way through a yellow carpet of leaves. [Also V + away at/on ]
mun|chies /mʌ ntʃiz/ N‑PLURAL If someone gets the munchies , they suddenly feel a strong desire to eat a snack or something sweet. [INFORMAL ] □ …an attack of the munchies.
mun|dane /mʌ nde I n/ ADJ Something that is mundane is very ordinary and not at all interesting or unusual. □ Be willing to do even mundane tasks. □ …the mundane realities of life. ● N‑SING You can refer to mundane things as the mundane . □ It's an attitude that turns the mundane into something rather more interesting and exciting.
mu|nici|pal /mjuːn I s I p ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Municipal means associated with or belonging to a city or town that has its own local government. □ The municipal authorities gave the go-ahead for the march. □ …next month's municipal elections. □ …the municipal library.
mu|nici|pal|ity /mjuːn I s I pæ l I ti/ (municipalities )
1 N‑COUNT In Britain, a municipality is a city or town which is governed by its own locally-appointed officials. You can also refer to a city's or town's local government as a municipality .
2 N‑COUNT In the United States, a municipality is a city or town that is incorporated and can elect its own government, which is also called a municipality .
mu|nifi|cent /mjuːn I f I sənt/ ADJ A munificent person is very generous. [FORMAL ] □ …one of the country's most munificent artistic benefactors. □ …a munificent donation.
mu|ni|tions /mjuːn I ʃ ə nz/ N‑PLURAL Munitions are military equipment and supplies, especially bombs, shells, and guns. □ …the shortage of men and munitions. □ …a munitions factory.
mu|ral /mjʊə rəl/ (murals ) N‑COUNT A mural is a picture painted on a wall. □ [+ of ] …a mural of Tangier bay.
mur|der ◆◆◇ /mɜː r də r / (murders , murdering , murdered )
1 N‑VAR Murder is the deliberate and illegal killing of a person. □ The three accused, aged between 19 and 20, are charged with attempted murder. □ She refused to testify, unless the murder charge against her was dropped. □ …brutal murders.